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Type of key? And how to get broken part out of lock? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 12 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

35 comments fedilink hide all child comments

1. Type of key?

The brand is Phillips but they make various types. The type here is (not sure of the correct jargon) without vertical ridges and notches. And both sides of the key are identical.

I've looked at some diagrams of key types and I'm not sure exactly. Is it a "dimple key"? Something else?

2. How to remove broken part from lock?

Location: Door between bedroom and garden.

Situation:

Someone bent the key a little, and it was stuck, couldn't get it out. On the inside of the door. At that point still able to lock and unlock from the inside only. Using other key from the outside does nothing, doesn't even turn.
I tried gently straightening it but it immediately snapped.
Now: can still open and close the door using the handle. Can still, with difficulty, lock and unlock the door (from inside only) by carefully pressing the head of the key against what is in the lock and turning.

A lot of info online for removing broken key blades from locks are for the "traditional" kind of key with vertical ridges and notches.

I have a screwdriver that fits all the screws and I can access all sides of the lock (inside, outside, edge), but I'm not sure if that's relevant. I've tried tweezers but it's too snug.

If I need more tools or equipment, I'll get them tomorrow.

top 35 comments

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 minutes ago (1 children)

Strong magnet maybe?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 minutes ago

thanks david

[–] [email protected] 2 points 34 minutes ago

There's a pretty good chance that you can get a bit of wire or a fine pick and push the key through from the other side, I'd be trying that first.

Aside from that the next easiest solution is likely to just disassemble the lock and replace the cylinder as others have suggested.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

superglue.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't you just replace the whole lock?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

This. Some people don't realise how ridiculously easy it is to change a lock when you can open the door with a key.

Put the working key into the lock
Undo this screw

Turn the key slightly back and forth whilst pulling the cylinder out until it starts to come out. Then just pull it all out.
Mark which side was front and back
Measure from the middle locking mechanism of the cylinder to the ends.
Find a lock with the same lengths. It'll be like 60/40 (100mm total length).

6b. Optional: get one with a fixed turnkey on the inside.

Replace lock by reverse.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Any time I've had a key stuck like this I've used something sharp and just stabbed it down into the top of the key and leveraged it against the lock itself. Keys are way softer than people think.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I’m pretty strong for being a middle aged woman (so not strong in general), and I can break a key in a lock relatively easily with just my hands.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 6 hours ago

Uh... can I have your number?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 hours ago

Dimple lock. The pins move sideways instead of up and down. Not familiar with the brand.

You could try and straighten a small fish hook to remove the broken key.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Hot glue gun glue stick. Melt end, attach, wait a few, pull.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Yep. I’ve also used a paper clip, straightened out with a very small bend at the end.

I’ve also used chewing gum, though you have to wait it for it to harden a little. Duct tape might work too.

You only have to get it to move out a tiny amount. Then you can get a pair of needle nose pliers on it and pull it out.

That particular key looks challenging though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Tried a dab of super glue on a paper clip then held to the key?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

Not likely enough surface area for cyanoacrylate to do its magic, though one could try to glue the key pieces together and hope it holds long enough for a partial pull. Likely to just glue the broken piece in there by accident.

Hot glue is gooey and will grab the broken part.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

I would have thought you'd struggle to get hot glue to bond sufficiently the metal or be able to get a small enough amount on a something thin enough quickly enough to get it to stick to the key end without getting all over the barrel.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 hours ago

I'd drill into the thickest part with a small drill, then tilt it and gently pull it out with the key.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

This looks like a similar setup to some security doors I've messed with.

Edit: what about using a unfolded paperclip and push from the other side. The plan I had when I started writing this probably won't work as accessing the key cylinder will only likely get access the keyhole.

Edit2 id also hit it with a spray from a can of WD-40 (lubricant) and hope that helps work things loose.

Below is probably useless but it was my train if thought initially.

They have a removable part so the locks can be rekeyed easily by a locksmith by replacing some pins on the inside to match the keys.

Edit 3 if removing fails and you need to replace a part, you probably could get away with just replacing the locking part and not the whole handle mechanism.

In the ones Ive used a screw on the door matches up holding the locking cylinder component. Probably the one just above the deadbolt.

Try unscrewing this to see if the cylinder the key is stuck in can be removed.

Go very carefully as I don't know what is actually holding the stack of pins which match your key and if these pins fall out, finding which go where will be very hard and very fiddly.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 hours ago

WD-40 is not a lubricant, it can do it short term, but makes things worse long term.

WD-40 literally stands for Water Displacement - Formula 40.

Its to keep mechanical components hydrophobic so they don't rust or otherwise degrade due to the presence of water.

For locks and keyways, you want powdered graphite as a lubricant. I keep a small tube (puffer style) in my pick kit if needed.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 hours ago

Superglue the key back together, let it set, and pull it out.

Be careful not to use too much glue and br sure it's set before you pull.

Alternatively, try needle nose pliers or a hook if you can get any purchase on the key remains.

They also sell extractors but the above suggestions will probably work.

If all else fails, call a locksmith.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

Dental pick, like the kind that your hygienist uses to give you PTSD should do the trick.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

OP’s description of trying to pull the key out when it broke, makes me think the key may also be bound/frozen in the lock. I don’t think you’re supposed to use wet lubricants in a lock, but they may need to use a penetrating lubricant (like wd-40) along with the dental pick.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

An $8 dental kit has been a life saver in so many situations.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago

Or slightly more expensive, if legal in your area, are actual locksmith tools.

I have a pick set I busted out this morning to unlock a pad lock on our circuit breaker (outside for some stupid reason, locked because its a new development and we had construction workers turn the house off while me and the wife were the only people on our respective jobs working the shift remotely)

We need power to run desktops. A UPS is handy, but its a bandaid to shut down correctly until power is restored fully.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 hours ago

Some superglue on the broken part of the key and reattach it, or alternatively superglue a few paper clips or other thin metal objects to the key in the door. Using more than one will spread out the force used to pull.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

A neodymium magnet could work, maybe even a fake one from Amazon

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 hours ago

Keys are brass, not magnetic

[–] [email protected] 5 points 12 hours ago

I got a key out of a similar situation in the folks RV the other day using a small flat screw driver and a knife to pinch the key and pull it out...

[–] [email protected] 18 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Use a broken key extractor.

https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=broken+key+extractor

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/387398979050

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Wouldn't a functioning key extractor work better than a broken one?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago

I like the cut of your jib.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 hours ago

Neat! Didn't know there was such a thing. Another poster suggested a dental pick kit, not as good but more versatile.

[–] [email protected] 60 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Unlock the door and remove those screws holding the latch in the door.

Once you’ve removed the lock you should be able to disassemble it and push the stuck key out or worst case, replace the lock cylinder.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

This is the answer.

The only downside is you can see how stripped those screws are even in this photo. That'll be fun.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 53 minutes ago

On this type of latch (mortise) the third screw is often stripped (because it’s a set screw that holds the lock barrel in place and often the notch in the barrel is misaligned) but it should unscrew easily.

The barrel itself, however, is usually finely threaded and can require a fair amount of torque to get started, especially without using the key for additional purchase. If that gives you trouble I would recommend a strap wrench, channel lock pliers over silicone/rubber material (to protect finish), or perhaps a jar opener. GL!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 hours ago

Yep. Use a rubber band in the screw when trying to unscrew it to help with a bit extra grip and then never use those screws again either. Either that or use a Dremel to turn it into a flat head screw and remove them.